Exciting and revolutionary print techniques

‘Print’ is becoming a more and more blurry term with what is usually thought of as the two-dimensional ‘opposite’ to digital evolving hugely, notably with the development of 3D printing and by incorporating digital technology with the traditional ideas of print.

Here are four revolutionary print techniques we’re excited about at the moment:

This print method, developed by Alex Trochut, allows you to print two images onto one surface – one that appears in the light and one in the dark. The website displays the concept well with a timer switching from light to dark every 10 seconds, showing the different images. There are so many great applications for this concept, it would be interesting to see how people notice and react to the change as it gets dark.

Sunlight-activated ink

I saw this beautifully crafted annual report for Austria Solar at the Design Museum this year. The pages appear blank until sunlight activates the ink. Designed by Serviceplan, a Munich based agency.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-im4MITNysU

Anti-gravity printing

This new method of ‘Anti-Gravity’ printing was created through a collaboration between the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia and the Joris Laarman Studio. As 3D printing evolves, it’s exciting to consider what this could be used for in the future. Researchers say this could help the manufacture of structures in almost any size and shape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTyiYPhjIKU

Battery-powered ink

Light up your printed images by connecting them to a battery. The video shows to special inks – one that glows when attached to an electric current, and one that becomes transparent. This technique is used by Orkan Telham and he explains how it works in the video below: